Deterring theft of media recording devices by encrypting recorded media files

a technology of media recording device and encryption, applied in the field of cryptography, can solve the problems of large size of personal or consumer-grade video cameras, cumbersome devices, and devices that are nearly impossible to recover and return to their rightful owners

US7418599B2Inactive Publication Date: 2008-08-26INT BUSINESS MASCH CORP
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Patents(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2008-08-26
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for deterring theft of media recording devices. Input received from a sensor, or some portion of the input, is encrypted prior to storing a media file. A decryption key must be provided when the media file is to be played back. If the key is not provided, then the file is preferably still played back, but is played back in a degraded manner. For example, a background color or other filler may be rendered in place of the encrypted portion. Additional parts of the file may also be degraded during playback. By making the playback unpleasant for the listener / viewer, theft of the recording device will be much less desirable—yet recording can continue uninterrupted, thereby minimizing disruption to legitimate users. The disclosed techniques may also be used to deter theft of the recorded media.
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Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to cryptography, and deals more particularly with methods, systems, and program instructions for encrypting media files to deter theft of a media recording device.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Media recording devices continue to evolve in terms of functionality and design, with a trend towards increased function and improved recording quality in smaller devices. Digital cameras, as one example, are becoming more compact while offering many useful features. Video cameras (also known as “camcorders”) are another example. Until recent years, personal or consumer-grade video cameras were large, cumbersome devices that displayed real-time feedback (i.e., in the eyepiece viewer) only in grayscale; these models have now been replaced with models that are relatively small and lightweight, and which display real-time feedback in full color.

[0005] Consumer-grade digital cameras and vide...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0023]The present invention defines techniques for deterring theft of media recording devices. A media file or some portion thereof is encrypted prior to or during (i.e., in conjunction with) the recording operation. According to preferred embodiments, an operator of the recording device is not required to supply a cryptographic key during the recording process. However, the recorded file cannot be played back, or cannot be played back in a quality manner, unless a decryption key is provided. Thus, theft of recording devices is deterred because the inability to play back files recorded with the devices makes the devices no longer desirable. Furthermore, the recordings created with such devices are not desirable to persons who cannot decrypt the files, and thus use of the present invention also serves as a deterrent to theft of recorded media that may be stored externally from the recording device.

[0024]Preferred embodiments are described herein with reference to media in the form of...